LOW DEPOSITS - JUST £49 PER PERSON!

OFFER ENDS 31st AUGUST*

The heart of Central America

Fly direct from Gatwick to join this unforgettable small group tour - an incredible opportunity to experience Costa Rica's amazing natural beauty. Explore the canopy of Monteverde's majestic cloud forest, see the brooding mass of the Arenal volcano, spend blissful days relaxing in a luxury hotel in Manuel Antonio, and encounter some the rarest and most colourful wildlife on the planet.

Costa Rica Tour Highlights

Return direct flights from Gatwick to San Jose with British Airways

Journey through the rainforest, by boat, to Tortuguero National Park

Encounter Tortuguero's wildlife from Mawamba Lodge

Late-summer visitors may see Green Turtles nesting

Enjoy dinner at a floating restaurant

Journey back through the jungle to La Fortuna, close to Arenal's 'perfect' volcano

What does the price include?

Five lunches and three dinners (including a floating-restaurant dinner in Tortuguero)

Comfortable, air-conditioned coach travel and transfers

Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced Tour Manager

Single rooms are available for a supplement

Costa Rica Tour Itinerary

Day One: Fly to Costa Rica

Fly to San Jose, the friendly, cosmopolitan capital of Costa Rica. Meet your Tour Manager and transfer to your hotel, then rest and relax after your journey.

Day Two: Travel from San Jose to Tortuguero

Very early this morning, we'll board the coach and head east, through jungle landscapes. After an en-route stop for breakfast, you'll arrive at the pier in Cano Blanco or Pavona, and board a canal boat for the last part of the journey, to the very edge of the Caribbean Sea.

Spend two nights in Tortuguero National Park, at Mawamba Lodge. The park is a treasure trove of biological diversity - it's home to land turtles, monkeys and manatees, and some 375 species of bird - criss-crossed by canals and navigable lagoons.

Day Three: Optional and included Tortuguero wildlife tours

Early this morning you'll have the chance to see the astonishing wildlife of Costa Rica come to life as a new day begins on an optional canal tour in the company of an expert guide.

Return to the lodge for breakfast, then head out once more for a full-day tour of the park. Hidden within the landscape of waterways and tropical forest you may spot monkeys and manatees, sloths and caimans, tiny turtles and toucan, as well as macaws, iguanas and water-walking 'Jesus Christ' lizards.

The park is also a vital nesting site for both green and leatherback turtles, and visitors in September will have the opportunity to visit the hatching site where (with luck) newly hatched turtles will be emerging!

Complete your stay in this amazing place this evening with dinner at the lodge's floating restaurant.

Day Four: Included hot springs visit

Leaving Tortuguero behind, we'll travel across the Costa Rican lowlands to La Fortuna and the Arenal Paraiso Hotel for two-night stay with views of majestic Arenal. After 40 years, the eruptions of this exceptionally active volcano have finally died down, but the region is blessed with hot springs and thermal baths, including those at Eco Termales that you'll visit today.

Day Five: Included Cano Negro cruise

Today you'll travel north to the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge. Enjoy a canal cruise along the stunning Rio Frio during which you should hope to see more caiman and crocodiles, monkeys, iguanas and a variety of colourful birds. Keep a particularly sharp eye out for the camouflaged head of a Common Potoo peering over the top of its perch.

We'll return to the hotel in La Fortuna this evening.

Day Six: Optional Arenal foothills hike

This morning you'll have the chance to join a gentle optional hike around the lava formations and forests at the base of Arenal.

Later, we'll head around Lake Arenal and make our way to into the cloud forests of Monteverde, where private conservation sites and reserves protect wildlife communities quite unlike those elsewhere in the country. Our base for two nights, the El Establo Hotel, boasts extensive hillside grounds and offers spectacular views across the forested hills and - on clear days - all the way to the Nicoya Gulf.

Day Seven: Included Monteverde cloud forest tour

Today we'll follow the 1.9km trail over eight bridges through the lush rainforest canopy of Selvatura Park. Visit the Hummingbird Garden, and Butterfly Garden for a close encounter with these sparkling creatures, and perhaps dare to ride Selvatura Park's 15 zip lines (the longest of which is one kilometre long!) through the cloud-forest canopy on an optional excursion.

Day Eight:Coach travel to Manuel Antonio

Stunning Manuel Antonio National Park, at the edge of the ocean on Costa Rica's central Pacific Coast, provides the perfect background for a relaxing pause in your travels as you enjoy the facilities of a secluded luxury hotel just a short walk from the beach and close to the park entrance.

Days 9-11: Relaxing in Manuel Antonio

Relax beside your hotel's delightful pool, head into Manuel Antonio National Park on an excursion or visit the nearby town of Quepos. The choice of how little or how much to do on these three days is entirely yours.

Day 12: Coach travel to San Jose

Today you'll return to San Jose and head to the airport to board your flight home.

Day 13: Flight home

Arrive back in the UK after an overnight flight.

Departure Airport

Date

Price From

London Gatwick

London Gatwick

09 January 2018

£2829

London Gatwick

London Gatwick

06 March 2018

£2829

London Gatwick

London Gatwick

14 April 2018

£2799

London Gatwick

London Gatwick

08 September 2018

£2699

London Gatwick

London Gatwick

06 October 2018

£2699

London Gatwick

London Gatwick

10 November 2018

£2749

London Gatwick

London Gatwick

08 January 2019

£2899

London Gatwick

London Gatwick

05 February 2019

£2899

London Gatwick

London Gatwick

05 March 2019

£2899

London Gatwick

London Gatwick

06 April 2019

£2899

London Gatwick

London Gatwick

07 September 2019

£2799

London Gatwick

London Gatwick

05 October 2019

£2799

London Gatwick

London Gatwick

09 November 2019

£2799

Costa Rica Touring Hotels

The hotels used on our tours will meet the standard of a good, three-star European hotel. Rooms will have private bathrooms, telephones and TV. There will always be a bar or restaurant on site or nearby.

Costa Rica Touring Hotels

The hotels used on our tours will meet the standard of a good, three-star European hotel. Rooms will have private bathrooms, telephones and TV. There will always be a bar or restaurant on site or nearby.

Holiday Inn Aurola, San Jose (night 1)

This modern, centrally located, air-conditioned hotel offers three restaurants - including the 17th-floor Mirador that boasts views out over the city - a bar, an indoor swimming pool, a gym and spa facilities. The rooms are well-appointed, and offer cable TV and coffee-making facilities.

Mawamba Lodge, Tortuguero (nights 2-3)

Set on the beachfront, but with views to the canals, this hotel has beautiful gardens and rustic accommodation that blend with the jungle vegetation, exotic birds and wildlife. Facilities include an outdoor swimming pool and pool restaurant, a cafe with Wi-Fi, walking trails, butterfly, frog and iguana gardens and a charming floating restaurant. The rooms overlook the gardens, and have ceiling fans and safes.

Arenal Paraiso Hotel and Spa, La Fortuna (nights 4-5)

Boasting 13 thermal pools and a spa, and two restaurants including a steak house, this hotel also offers air-conditioned rooms with cable TV, telephones, small refrigerators, coffee-making facilities, hairdryers and terraces that look across to Arenal Volcano.

El Establo Mountain Hotel, Monteverde (nights 6-7)

Set amid Monteverde's spectacular Cloud Forest, this hotel is spread out across a wooded hillside that offers spectacular views across the treetops to the Nicoya Gulf. A frequent, free shuttle bus service carries visitors to and from their rooms and the public areas, which include a spa, indoor swimming pools and a gym. The hotel has two restaurants, and offers free Wi-Fi in the public areas (details available from reception).

El Parador Hotel, Manuel Antonio (nights 8-11)

Surrounded by rainforest, this resort hotel offers secluded luxury high above the Pacific Ocean. The hotel has two infinity pools, an adult swimming pool with a cascade, a relaxation pool and spa, nature trails, free Wi-Fi, and a shuttle bus service to the beach. The rooms are comfortable and each has cable TV, coffee-making facilities and a mini-bar.Should circumstances require, we reserve the right to accommodate you in a conveniently located, alternative hotel of a similar standard.

Further Information

Small group tours

Group sizes on each departure on this tour are restricted to a maximum of 24 people. The usual group size is between 16 and 20. As a result you'll be able to travel in smaller vehicles, enjoy experiences and encounters (and in some cases even stay in wonderful little places) that are denied to larger groups.

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 30 minutes.

Optional excursions on 2017 departures

The optional morning Arenal hike in the morning of Day Six will not be available.

Turtle hatching time in Tortuguero

Departures in September 2018 may have the chance to see baby green turtles hatching at the nesting sites along Tortuguero's 22 miles of beaches.

Passports and visas

British citizens do not require a visa to visit Costa Rica. Passports must be valid for one day beyond your stay in Costa Rica.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Departure tax

A departure tax of USD$29 per person is payable on departure at San Jose airport.

Luggage allowance

You are permitted to take one suitcase per person on the aircraft, which should not exceed 23kg. Please take an overnight bag, though, as luggage is limited to 11kgs for nights two and in Tortuguero National Park.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Travel vaccinations

Requirements and advice can vary over time, and from person to person, so please contact your GP about eight weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or any other preventive measures.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Changes to your hotels

Should circumstances require, we reserve the right to accommodate you in alternative hotels, of a similar standard, nearby. Full details of your hotels will be sent with your Final Travel Documents.

*Low deposit of £49 per person applies to new bookings made between 1st and 31st August 2017 (inclusive) only. This offer only applies to selected air-inclusive holidays. This offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time.

Costa Rica - Nature's Paradise reviews verified by reevoo

Costa Rica - Nature's ParadiseScores 9.1 out of 10based on 31 reviews

(10 out of 10)

JOHN

RICHMOND, NORTH YORKSHIRE
Couple

General Comments

Excellent holiday made so by superb guide and accommodating coach driver. Hotels in the main were very good, particularly the last one (Parador) but we found it difficult to come to terms with no drawers or wardrobe space in one hotel and the lack of plugs for the wash basin in two others. This especially after we had been exorted to save water. The local guides who took us on various animal spotting trips were knowledgeable and helpful but "Laura" a guide used by the rain forest lodge is definitely in need of extra training both in terms of verbal delivery and appropriateness of some comments. At times we didn't know whether she was speaking Spanish or English. She really tested our patience on more than one occasion and detracted from the information she was trying to give us. It just needs someone to impress upon her the need to slow down her presentation and cut out irrelevent material.

Confirmed traveller:
19 March 2017
Published on:
26 March 2017

(8 out of 10)

ANNETTE

Chipping Campden
Couple

General Comments

A couple of hotels were only just good. The Parador was super.Local guide and coach driver were first class.

Confirmed traveller:
19 March 2017
Published on:
26 March 2017

(10 out of 10)

ANTHONY

Lowestoft
Couple

General Comments

Great time in costa rica from start till finish

Confirmed traveller:
19 March 2017
Published on:
26 March 2017

(10 out of 10)

SHEILA

Southport
Single traveller

General Comments

Well organised, excellent guides and drivers.

Confirmed traveller:
19 March 2017
Published on:
26 March 2017

(10 out of 10)

RODDY

Shenstone
Couple

General Comments

Excellent accommodation with exceptional access to animals and birds. Guides were amazing in spotting all kinds of wildlife. A truly memorable holiday.

Confirmed traveller:
22 January 2017
Published on:
09 February 2017

(10 out of 10)

JANET

Bishop's Stortford
Single traveller

General Comments

Best holiday I've ever had. Guides and tour manager were very knowledgeable and eager for us to see as much wildlife as possible. Food was very good, accommodations clean and comfortable and staff very helpful and friendly. Was with a lovely group of people too. Costa Rica is a wonderful country and I would urge anyone with an interest in nature to visit.

Confirmed traveller:
22 January 2017
Published on:
05 February 2017

(10 out of 10)

CAROL

Harwich
Friends

General Comments

Hotels were amazing. Each was different and had wildlife on the doorstep including the most beautiful birds. Food was incredible, especially for a vegetarian like me. Our guide gave a history of Costa Rica as well as wildlife spotting and took good care of us during the holiday. Ticos very friendly and the group I travelled with were lovely. It was a holiday of a lifetime.